I am an adult school patrol on a busy street. I have seen many scary things standing on that corner.

Please be careful. Whether the children are waiting for a bus or crossing with a crossing guard, please slow down and be watchful.

It only takes one careless moment to change the lives of the child and the driver.

Remember, the life of any person is more important than running that red light.

Linda Thone, St. Paul

Family’s story includes lifesaving efforts

As the tragic facts regarding the multiple stabbings in the Sieferman family unfold (“Sorry, I can’t deal with them anymore,” Aug. 23), at least one positive aspect regarding the circumstances should be noted. The health care providers at Regions Hospital (emergency room team and the operating room teams) and the Gillette Pediatric Intensive Care Unit should be commended for their expeditious and professional care. Services from multiple specialties worked feverishly to save the lives of all three individuals. The St. Paul community and surrounding area should feel fortunate to have two quality institutions working so closely together to provide such excellent pediatric trauma care.

Matt Layman, M.D., Stillwater

The writer is medical director of Peri-operative Services at Regions Hospital.

Dig deeper on Pawlenty

The national media have adopted Gov. Tim Pawlenty as their darling du jour. We are continually reminded that Pawlenty was elected twice as a Republican governor in a solid blue state. That superficial analysis is pure nonsense.

Yes, Pawlenty was elected twice, in 2002 and 2006. But, what the national media always fail to mention is that in each election Pawlenty faced two Democrats, plus a Green Party candidate in the general election. In 2002, Pawlenty faced Roger Moe (former Minnesota Senate majority leader) and Tim Penny (former Democratic congressman, running as an Independent) and the Green Party candidate.

In 2006, Pawlenty faced Mike Hatch (Minnesota attorney general), highly liberal Peter Hutchinson (former Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent, running as an Independent) and the Green Party candidate. In each election, the Democrat/liberal/progressive vote was split among three candidates. Pawlenty won in 2002 with 44.37 percent of the vote; in 2006 with 46.69 percent. In neither election did he capture a majority. That’s because we were, are and will be a solidly progressive, blue state.

The national media like to zero in on Pawlenty’s affable nature and pleasing smile. As McCain’s possible vice presidential pick, perhaps they should dig a little deeper. And they would discover that he is not a moderate.

Paul Bartlett, St. Paul

Police salary or side jobs

In response to letter writer M. Puente (“Police wage debate,” Aug. 24), officers want to work in St. Paul because of the excellent reputation of the St. Paul Police Department, not the salary they are paid.

The job of a police officer is not the best career choice if your goal in life is to acquire wealth. If St. Paul police officers were paid a decent salary, they would not need to work the so-called lucrative side jobs to which the writer refers.

Debbie Reiter, St. Paul

Courting favor or

challenging boosters

Remember when Sen. Norm Coleman attacked the financial practices of the United Nations during the run-up to the Iraq War? This was not because the financial practices of the U.N. were a burning issue for the people of Minnesota. Instead, it was a tactic to diminish the standing of the U.N. because it did not endorse Bush’s drive toward war. It was a popular move to court favor with a then-popular president. In other words, Coleman not only voted for the war, he played an active role in foisting this foreign policy debacle on America.

While Coleman was helping the Bush administration manipulate public opinion for this war, Al Franken was using his prominence to challenge the media cheerleaders for the war — Limbaugh, O’Reilly and others — and debunking the falsehoods that we had been fed. It was not a popular position at the time, but it was the right position.

John L. Buck, Shoreview

‘At home’ with

the candidates

While many of Barack Obama’s Democratic colleagues — Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Hillary Clinton, etc. — have numerous homes, Obama thinks it’s obscene for his political opponent, Sen. John McCain, to own more than one. I always thought that, in our capitalist society, Americans had the right to own as many of anything as we wish.

Ray Stoltzman, North St. Paul

Grateful to our faith community

“Balancing faith and families” was the perfect headline for Bao Ong’s story (Aug. 24). That is indeed our challenge.

My wife, Maureen, and I have a son, Brett, who has severe developmental disabilities. Our parish, Holy Name of Jesus in Medina, has been very accepting of Brett, who stands throughout Mass, claps freely and lets out an occasional squeal or shriek. While he can’t utter a single word, he often jumps up and down for joy during parts of the Mass. I always tell people the timing of his joy is “liturgically correct.”

Brett inspires our family and our faith community to be more prayerful, more accepting and more appreciative. Maureen and I are moved by Holy Name’s acceptance of Brett and their support of our family. We know our presence sometimes means a ruckus and we are grateful for a faith community that agrees that everyone should be able to worship in his or her way — that all should be included.

Steve Hayes, Plymouth

Churches and ‘special needs’ families

Thank you so much for sharing the stories of area churches that have managed to accommodate families with members who have special needs (“Balancing faith and families,” Aug. 24).

When we moved to the Twin Cities last year, one of our biggest concerns was finding a church where our son with autism, age 26, would be welcome. Thanks to the wonderful congregation at Centennial United Methodist Church in Roseville, we have found a church home.

Shortly after we joined the church, it became apparent that there were several young adults in the congregation who did not have a place to fit in. A meeting developed, and a class was born. Fondly nicknamed The Flames, after some of the members’ Special Olympics team, the class meets monthly and enjoys fellowship outside of the church setting, as well.

My husband and I could not have asked for a more accepting congregation.

Phyllis Lewellyn, Arden Hills

Too much ceremony

I’m thinking that if the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies get much longer, they will pretty much take the full two weeks to perform and we’ll have about 12 minutes of actual competition time available. Is it written somewhere that these ceremonies have to drag on ad nauseam? I think an hour or two on each end would pretty well cover it.

Dave Schulte, Inver Grove Heights

Vote speaks louder than rhetoric

As the election draws closer, I’m disappointed with the vast majority of candidates. The so-called “Big Two” parties again offer nothing but the lesser of two evils.

Again, I hear people saying we should “throw the bums out.” Well, why don’t you? Why do folks rant and rave about the situation but, except in rare cases, fail to back up the rhetoric with votes?

If you want positive change, then suck it up, take the risk and vote for it. An excellent example is the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, with Norm Coleman, Al Franken and Dean Barkley. Coleman and Franken are more of the same.

Barkley is a superb candidate who served Minnesota honorably and faithfully when Paul Wellstone was so tragically taken from us. I say we send this fine man back to the U.S. Senate, where I’m positive he will again serve us well.

It can be done. All we have to do is vote.

Craig A. Carroll, Hastings

Give it up, for the kids

Good for S. Renee Mitchell for admitting her mistakes and sharing with readers (“Making room for Daddy,” Aug. 24).

I’ve never understood how some women could hate the men who helped create the most precious gift in their lives.

How do these women not realize the importance of the love and affection and time of both parents to the health and well-being of their children?

The pitiful child custody statutes in Minnesota promote the intense rivalry. My usually progressive state refuses to improve this barbaric system by starting with the presumption of joint custody.

My “ex” and I chose to be amicable, and our adult children love us for that consideration. They’ve witnessed the pain that friends have endured whose parents hate one another because of their costly custody battles.

Jane Q. Revsbech, Excelsior

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